The names in the first set of cuts aren’t surprising. None of the demoted players were expected to make the team out of camp, and so the fact that they were sent out is par for the course. That does not mean, however, that these cuts are inconsequential; on the contrary, NHL teams simply do not arbitrarily send out players. Whenever a series of cuts is made it tells outside observers something – both about the players sent out, and the players left behind.

The majority of the cuts belong to one of two groups: 2011 draft picks and unsigned players in camp on some kind of tryout deal.

Of the nine players drafted in 2011, just five attended training camp. The European selections (Klefbom, Perhonen, Tuohimaa) have already started their seasons over on the other side of the Atlantic, while defenseman Dillon Simpson was unable to attend due to NCAA eligibility rules. Two others were released today – fourth-rounder Tobias Rieder and fifth-rounder Martin Gernat – both of whom will report to junior. This means that of the youngest available players, just three remain. The continuing presence of first overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is not a surprise, while Travis Ewanyk’s serious shoulder injury means that he’s a non-factor. That leaves David Musil, the 31st overall selection. The fact that he’s still with the team isn’t that surprising, but it is a good sign.

Also sent out were five of the skaters on tryout contracts: Brett Ferguson, Chase Schaber, Tyler Schmidt, Colin Smith, and play-by-play man’s delight Wes Vannieuwenhuizen. The departures of Vannieuwenhuizen and Smith are extremely unsurprising, but there was some reason for optimism with the other three. Still, any undrafted player on a tryout contract has his work cut out trying to catch the eyes of the coaching staff in a crowded field of prospects, and obviously that trio failed to do enough to stick around.

Still, two players (both defensemen) on tryout deals remain: Ryan Lowery, a riverboat gambler who showcased both offensive willingness and a distressingly high-risk game during the Penticton tournament, and Kirill Tulupov, a rambunctious Russian with an affinity for aggressive play. Lowery likely isn’t long for camp, but Tulupov caught the eye of fans with a physical showing at the Joey Moss Cup and might surprise. Either way, surviving the first round of cuts is a nice initial step for both players.

Kristians Pelss, drafted late (181st overall) in 2010, was also sent out yesterday, and like the others his departure is not especially shocking. That said, the Oilers made four late selections in 2010, and two of the three (the fourth, Kellen Jones, was also unable to show thanks to NCAA rules) that attended this camp are still on the roster. Brandon Davidson (162nd overall) and Drew Czerwonka (166th overall) could have been sent out without drawing undue attention, and while all three are projects it seems that Pelss is still a little ways behind the cluster.

The most disappointing reassignment by far, however, is that of Toni Rajala, the 101st overall pick in 2009. Rajala had a lot of things going for him entering camp. As his draft year indicates, he’s older than a lot of the prospects hoping to be noticed this fall, and last season he played against men in Finland’s top league. The year before that, Rajala eclipsed the point-per-game mark with Brandon of the WHL. He is also signed to an NHL contract, a distinction that more than a few of the players still in camp would undoubtedly like to have. Rajala wasn’t put in a position to succeed in the Penticton games, but neither did he show that he deserved to be placed in that position.

Rajala’s early demotion is an indication of the direction the Oilers feel he is taking as a prospect. Rajala indicated to Joanne Ireland prior to the cuts that he was uncertain on whether he would return to Finland or head down to Oklahoma in the hopes of an AHL job. He’s returning to Finland now, and based on his training camp it isn’t clear that he would even have been able to earn a regular spot in the American League. On a team loaded to the gills with young offensive talent, Rajala’s sliding down the depth chart.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the “X” in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.